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Progressive activist group hopes to get Democratic 2020 candidates to sign loyalty pledge

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock speaks at the Des Moines Register Soapbox during a visit to the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa on Aug. 16, 2018. Bullock on May 14, 2019 joined the growing list of candidates in the 2020 presidential race, saying he was the only Democrat who won in a red state that President Donald Trump took by 20 points in 2016. Charlie Neibergall, AP

2020 Presidential candidates

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock speaks at the Des Moines Register Soapbox during a visit to the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa on Aug. 16, 2018. Bullock on May 14, 2019 joined the growing list of candidates in the 2020 presidential race, saying he was the only Democrat who won in a red state that President Donald Trump took by 20 points in 2016.
Charlie Neibergall, AP

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, D-Colo., speaks before Senator Bernie Sanders during a rally with young voters on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo. Bennet says he is seeking the Democratic nomination for president in 2020. The three-term senator made the announcement May 2, 2019 on “CBS This Morning.” David Zalubowski, AP

2020 Presidential candidates

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, D-Colo., speaks before Senator Bernie Sanders during a rally with young voters on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo. Bennet says he is seeking the Democratic nomination for president in 2020. The three-term senator made the announcement May 2, 2019 on “CBS This Morning.”
David Zalubowski, AP

Former Vice President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Construction and Maintenance Conference at the Washington Hilton in Washington D.C. April 5, 2019. Biden announced April 25, 2019 in a Youtube video making him one of 20 Democrats vying to become the party's 2020 presidential nominee. Jack Gruber, USAT

2020 Presidential candidates

Former Vice President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Construction and Maintenance Conference at the Washington Hilton in Washington D.C. April 5, 2019. Biden announced April 25, 2019 in a Youtube video making him one of 20 Democrats vying to become the party's 2020 presidential nominee.
Jack Gruber, USAT

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-MA.., meets with patrons after participating in the Pints and Politics event held at The Barley House in Concord, N.H. Saturday, March 16, 2019. Rep. Moulton announced he is joining the presidential race on April 22, 2019. Cheryl Senter, AP

2020 Presidential candidates

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-MA.., meets with patrons after participating in the Pints and Politics event held at The Barley House in Concord, N.H. Saturday, March 16, 2019. Rep. Moulton announced he is joining the presidential race on April 22, 2019.
Cheryl Senter, AP

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., holds his baby during the 116th Congress and swearing-in ceremony on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington on Jan. 3, 2019. Swalwell announced his bid on April 8, 2019, to run for president. SAUL LOEB, AFP/Getty Images

2020 Presidential candidates

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., holds his baby during the 116th Congress and swearing-in ceremony on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington on Jan. 3, 2019. Swalwell announced his bid on April 8, 2019, to run for president.
SAUL LOEB, AFP/Getty Images

Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, announced that he is running for president on Thursday, April 4, 2019. Nati Harnik, AP

2020 Presidential candidates

Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, announced that he is running for president on Thursday, April 4, 2019.
Nati Harnik, AP

Wayne Messam, the mayor of Miramar, Fla. and a former Florida State football player, announced his plans to run for president in a video released on March 28, 2019. JOE RAEDLE, Getty Images

2020 Presidential candidates

Wayne Messam, the mayor of Miramar, Fla. and a former Florida State football player, announced his plans to run for president in a video released on March 28, 2019.
JOE RAEDLE, Getty Images

Former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke announced he is running for president on March 14, 2019. CHARLIE NEIBERGALL, AP

2020 Presidential candidates

Former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke announced he is running for president on March 14, 2019.
CHARLIE NEIBERGALL, AP

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper announced he is running for president on March 4, 2019. CJ GUNTHER, EPA-EFE

2020 Presidential candidates

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper announced he is running for president on March 4, 2019.
CJ GUNTHER, EPA-EFE

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced he is running for president on March 1, 2019. TED S. WARREN, AP

2020 Presidential candidates

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced he is running for president on March 1, 2019.
TED S. WARREN, AP

Senator Cory Booker, D-NJ announced he was running for president on Feb. 1, 2019. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

2020 Presidential candidates

Senator Cory Booker, D-NJ announced he was running for president on Feb. 1, 2019.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg announced he was running for president on Jan. 23, 2019. Joshua Lott, AFP/Getty Images

2020 Presidential candidates

South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg announced he was running for president on Jan. 23, 2019.
Joshua Lott, AFP/Getty Images

Julian Castro, former U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary and San Antonio Mayor announced he was running for president on Jan. 12, 2019. Edward A. Ornelas, Getty Images

2020 Presidential candidates

Julian Castro, former U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary and San Antonio Mayor announced he was running for president on Jan. 12, 2019.
Edward A. Ornelas, Getty Images

Former Maryland Democratic Congressman John Delaney announced he was running for president on July 28, 2017. Elise Amendola, AP

2020 Presidential candidates

Former Maryland Democratic Congressman John Delaney announced he was running for president on July 28, 2017.
Elise Amendola, AP

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii announced she was running for president on Feb. 2, 2019. Steven Senne, AP

2020 Presidential candidates

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii announced she was running for president on Feb. 2, 2019.
Steven Senne, AP

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY announced she was running for president on Jan. 15, 2019. Brian Powers, The Register via USA TODAY Network

2020 Presidential candidates

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY announced she was running for president on Jan. 15, 2019.
Brian Powers, The Register via USA TODAY Network

2020 Presidential candidates

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock speaks at the Des Moines Register Soapbox during a visit to the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa on Aug. 16, 2018. Bullock on May 14, 2019 joined the growing list of candidates in the 2020 presidential race, saying he was the only Democrat who won in a red state that President Donald Trump took by 20 points in 2016.

WASHINGTON — Seeking to avoid the acrimony of the 2016 primaries and present a unified front going into 2020, the progressive grassroots group Indivisible is trying to get Democratic presidential candidates to pledge to support the eventual nominee, whoever it ends up being. And their effort seems to be working.

As of the time of publishing, 12 out of the 20 declared Democratic candidates have signed on to the "We Are Indivisible Pledge." Signatories agree to "respect the other candidates," "rally behind the winner," and "put myself at the disposal of the campaign [of the primary winner]." All of the top-polling candidates have signed on except for former Vice President Joe Biden.

In the 2016 campaign season, splits between the Clinton and Sanders campaigns roiled the Democratic primary. Among other low points, Clinton accused Sanders of siding with gun manufacturers instead of the families of Sandy Hook victims, and Sanders said that Clinton was "hustling money from the wealthy and powerful."

On the Republican side, a similar loyalty pledge fell apart after the remaining three candidates pulled out of it.The Republican field that year was almost as large as the Democratic one is now, and several of the candidates decided not to back the nominee when Trump emerged as the front-runner, despite having earlier signed the party's loyalty pledge. Trump himself pulled out of it after saying that the Republican Party had treated him "unfairly."

Maria Urbina, Indivisible's national political director, explained that the group wasn't anticipating similar splits among Democrats going into the 2020 primaries and general election. According to Urbina, the group's 5,000 chapters and over 1 million members were gearing up to defeat President Trump, regardless of the final Democratic nominee.

"I think folks understand clearly that there's a mandate to come together no matter what, next summer," said Urbina.